What is xylitol?

Xylitol is a natural sweetener that looks and tastes just like sugar. It has the same sweetness as sugar yet has 40% fewer calories, 75% fewer carbohydrates and is safe for diabetic and hypoglycemic persons and children. Xylitol also lacks the health concerns associated with artificial sweeteners, has a low glycemic index of 7 and has minimal effects on blood sugar levels.
In clinical studies, xylitol has proven to be effective in the ability to inhibit bacteria from attaching to tissue in the mouth, throat and nasal passages. By reducing the amount of plaque producing bacteria present in the mouth, xylitol has been shown to help reduce the occurrence of caries (cavities).
Xylitol is a member of the polyol family of sweeteners. Chemically speaking, it is a sugar alcohol and not actually sugar. Xylitol differs from other polyol sweeteners like sorbitol, mannitol and maltitol, and also sugar (sucrose), because it has a five-carbon atom structure instead of the usual six carbon atoms. This is the reason why xylitol has been proven to be the only sweetener to display anti-cavity properties.

Where does xylitol come from?

Xylitol is found in a number of fruits and vegetables, such as plums, berries and mushrooms, and is also produced naturally in the human body. It is most commonly extracted from corn cobs and corn stock or from hard woods such as birch trees. Xylitol produced from any source is always molecularly identical.

Is xylitol better than sugar?

As stated above, xylitol:

• Inhibits the ability of bacteria from attaching to tissue in the mouth, throat and nasal passages.

• Has a low glycemic index of 7

• Has 40% fewer calories than sugar and 75% fewer carbohydrates

• Aides in the reduction of bacteria that cause plaque

• Helps reduce the corrosive effects of lactic acids that destroy tooth enamel and cause tooth decay.

• Has been shown to reduce the incidence of inner ear infection (Otitis Media) in children who use products rich in xylitol, such as chewing gum, mints and nasal sprays.

• Assists in the remineralization of tooth enamel
  
  How much xylitol is needed to be effective?
  
  Studies show that in order to benefit from the use of xylitol products it is necessary to consume 6 to 8 grams of xylitol per day. Each piece of xylitol gum should contain between ½ a gram up to 1 gram of xylitol. This means that one would need to chew 4 to 8 pieces of gum each day. By incorporating the use of multiple xylitol products into your daily routine it becomes very easy to consume the required amount of xylitol needed to achieve the health benefits xylitol has to offer.
  
  
  Is it safe?
  
  Yes. The World Health Organization and the FDA have both confirmed that xylitol is a safe, sweet, consumable alternative to other sweeteners, a fact that was already known by the scientific community. Since xylitol is absorbed slowly and metabolized independently of insulin it is a safe alternative for people with diabetes and hypoglycemia.
  
  Who discovered xylitol?
  
  Xylitol was discovered in the late 1800’s almost simultaneously by French Chemist M. G. Bertrand and German Chemist Emil Fisher. It wasn’t until a sugar shortage during WWII that xylitol was commonly available for consumption. In the early 1970’s Finnish scientist confirmed the health benefits of xylitol. In 1975, the Finnish company Leaf introduced the first xylitol based chewing gum.
  
  
  References:
  Xylitol Research Articles
  Xylitol.org
  Nasal-xylitol.com